This time I got the opportunity to interview Rahul Basak who is a Co-founder and CEO of Amar Canvas, and a Documentary Photographer, and an upcoming author.

So without wasting your precious time.

Let’s get started

Our society to a great extent was successful in implanting in the minds of the young generation that one can pursue Art as a hobby but not as a full-time profession.

It was pathetic to see talented artist and artisan choosing another profession to meet their daily needs while many budding artists were facing economic hardships in their life just because they decided to follow the passion.

The founders of Amar Canvas noticed this trend and decided to build something which will not only help to sell and receive a fair price for their products but also encourage others to convert their artistic passion into a profession confidently.

The market for the artist and artisan is highly informal. They are struggling to sell their artworks at a reasonable price and often have to shell out hefty commissions or percentage from their profit to push sales of their product. However one will be wrong if he assumes that there is poor demand for art products.

Art lovers who are often busy with other things in their life are unable to figure out places which can give them an option to choose while purchasing and allow them to buy genuine creative products without having to shell out commissions for the middlemen.

The team also noticed that many artists, especially in a rural area, were clueless on how to sell their artworks beyond their local market when there is a tremendous demand for good artwork in the global market.

Amar Canvas, therefore, intends to create a revolution by bridging this demand-supply gap in the Artwork market. Amar Canvas is providing a web platform where artists can register online from the comfort of their house and display their products along with their price tag to the global audience.

The best part is that the company neither charges registration fees nor charges any commission from the artist.

They are free to set the price of their product and collect the same once the product is sold. Not only this, but they will also get a free online portfolio to showcase their work globally.

Customers who will now be able to purchase from a wide variety of products will now have those delivered directly from the artists’ studio to the customer’s house by our renowned delivery partners.

Amar Canvas is also providing a note from the artist of the particular art product describing the details of the artistic perspectives and even the technical aspects of that product.

They have already successfully created a movement through which an online art community of 31K+ people has been built within a few months and has also successfully conducted artist meet-ups in various districts of West Bengal.

They are currently accepting the art-work like painting, photograph, handcraft, and hand designed apparel and so on.

The founders of the company Mr. Rahul Basak (CEO) and Mr. Amit Kumar Mahishya Das (COO) said to us that, “India is always known as the art hub to the rest of the world but when they see the artists and artisans around them, especially the amateur ones are not getting the proper attention and the modern facilities to grow themselves and showcase their artwork for the rest of the world.

They find it frustrating and they wanted to help them with the modern technology, and after that, they created Amar Canvas which is now a trademark and a unit of ADRB Art Private Limited. And they also said very soon they would open the opportunity for the artists to sell their artwork to the International level, seating from their home only.”

1. Tell me about yourself? Your educational background? How was your childhood and what were your dreams?

Rahul Basak (Co-founder and CEO of Amar Canvas™):

Hello, my name is Rahul Basak, I am the Co-founder and CEO of Amar Canvas™ and the director of ADRB ART PRIVATE LIMITED. Apart from an entrepreneur, I don’t miss the opportunity to call myself an Artist or as an upcoming author.

I am one of the fewest people from India to hold the Adobe’s Behance Medal from India in documentary photography. Recently I signed my first coffee table book contract with Notion Press, Chennai which is going to publish in coming February.

Talking about my educational background five months ago I dropped out of my Master of Engineering (was studying Computer science and Engineering). Before that, I completed my Bachelor in Technology in Information Technology and also Completed Diploma in Engineering (Polytechnic) in Computer Science and Technology.

Talking about my childhood, how far remember I always tried to find creative communities in my school days and I also joined some of the most significant poet community at the age of 16, and at the age of 17 I became state level runner-up in science essay contest conducted by state govt and after that I played the role of an editor in our school magazines.

Since childhood, I always wanted to be a painter but yes ended up with being a documentary photographer but I’m glad that our company is all about art products and all about artists and artisans, so it feels like I am living my dream.

Amit Kumar Mahishya Das (Co-founder and COO of Amar Canvas™):

Hello, My name is Amit Kumar Mahishya Das, I am the co-founder and COO of Amar Canvas™. After completing my Bachelor in Technology in Computer Science and Engineering, I joined my father’s business to pursue my career as a businessman; I never thought of myself to be a job person, so never actually taken the idea of campusing very seriously.

So when the idea of Amar Canvas born, I was there with Rahul, and it took 1 microsecond to make it the decision that we are going to make this together. And yes, after that I leave my father’s business to give it full time. And yes, there is an artist in me, being a poet and entrepreneur, I think making Amar Canvas is like living with it.

2. When did the entrepreneur big bite you? How did the idea strike?

Rahul Basak: 6 months ago, I visited Hong Kong, at that time attending the Hong Kong Film Festival and the art spring festival all over Hong Kong helped to nourish the idea. Before visiting Hong Kong, my friend Amit (Co-founder and COO of Amar canvas™) and I was talking about the gap in between artists and art buyer in India at that very moment Amar Canvas was born on a roadside tea stall.

3. Who were mentors that encouraged you?

See, when you want to start something the first person should be the co-founder of the idea or the company. Without each other back for each other, it was never possible for us to bring the company to this height. It is like the pillars of any organization. Apart from that, we are lucky enough to have some well-wisher people in our lives who have always seen ourselves through the glasses of future and believed in our selves.

4. Tell me more about Amar Canvas. Also, what is the future?

We are made this for the artists to create a change in Indian Art Market Culture. In Future. Yes, we have a lot of things in mind, for the future, It’s better to wait for it ☺. But definitely whatever we will do it will make easier the life for the art lovers.

5. How is the art culture business in India?

According to our study India is a big market for the art products, but for having lack of the bridge in between the buyer and the art creator, not everyone gets the opportunity to sell their work. And only a few percentages of people make it. That’s why we created Amar Canvas to give the equal opportunity to everyone.

6. What made you choose this type of business?

I think apart from an entrepreneur, being an artist helped me (Rahul) to study the scenario more closely. And for the case of Amit (COO), he is also very much passion for art; he is a poet himself also.

7. How many employees are working?

Currently, we are six people together.

8. How do you advertise your business?

Mostly via various digital media.

9. Did you bootstrap it or you have managed to get the funding?

Few investors approached us. But we think this is not the right time, so we are bootstrapped.

10. Is there any competition in your domain? If yes, who are the big players and how you will manage to get ahead of them?

Yes, there is some esteemed organization which is also trying to develop the art market culture of India. And this is not a competition we genuinely want together we will change the culture, one day being an artist will also be counted as a profession not an only hobby in India.

11. What’s your company’s goal?

One day someone from the rural area of India can sell their artwork to the international level seating just from home with 100% profit of it.

12. How many hours do you work in a day?

Every person in this company is hardworking; it depends on the situation some time we do not sleep for two days and nights. But in most of the cases the time we are awake whether we are working for Amar Canvas or thinking or planning for Amar Canvas. It is always there.

13. How many books do you read in a year? Which is your favorite one?

This is a beautiful question Because we do love books.Rahul: I owned more than 500 books, philosophical books is my favorite zone. But last one year I have studied a lot of books on the famous entrepreneur journeys. And I love it. Because at the end of the day everything is philosophy. Mentioning one book as a favorite is hard, but I would like to say I love the books from Paulo Coelho and Mitch Album.

Amit: On this one, I would love to say recently I read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. And I like it very much.

14. If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting, what would it be?

Believe on your idea no matter what it is. Because it is important. And with time learn to nourish and respect it.

15. To what do you attribute your success?

See, this is all about the journey and for us, we just took our first baby step, and with everyone’s blessing, we would work hard to achieve more.